Cleaning Up At The Play House West

By Cheryl Ichikawa

The preschoolers at the Play House West engage in many practical life skills, like washing dishes.  This sensory activity also introduces children to the science of making bubbles, encourages discussions about health and safety, provides opportunities for practicing fine motor skills, and allows them to engage in conversations.

This type of small group activity provides children with the opportunity to work together on a common task.  It teaches responsibility and team work. 

These preschoolers work together to clean and maintain the toys in their classroom, which demonstrates a sense of pride in contributing to a pleasant environment. 

Because this is a small group activity, some children will play in a different area of the classroom until a spot opens up. This teaches the children the value of taking turns and the importance of being patient.  Throughout the activity, children negotiate the space and materials in order to work comfortably and cooperatively.  Teachers ensure that every child who wants to participate is given the opportunity.  

Most importantly, the children really enjoy cleaning up!